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Winona Dec. 26th /64
Brother James,
Ellens frequent letters together with a degree of carelessness and some employment on my part has prevented my writing to you of late. I do so now more as an evidence of remembrance than to communicate anything oficial. In truth I have nothing to write. I have been too much depressed since Lincolns election by the inevitable continuance of the war to indulge even a pleasant thought. Since the war commenced, even during its darkest days, I had fondly looked forward to the close of his administration as offering at least a promise of peace, and my return to former pursuits. But now, all is dark. My last hope is gone. I feel like giving up � caught without means, and resources � even to speculate, I have had a hard time � a poor time, but I had hope of its termination. Now every prop is knocked from under me. I am at a loss what to do. Something I must

Winona Dec. 26th /64
Brother James,
Ellens frequent letters together with a degree of carelessness and some employment on my part has prevented my writing to you of late. I do so now more as an evidence of remembrance than to communicate anything oficial. In truth I have nothing to write. I have been too much depressed since Lincolns election by the inevitable continuance of the war to indulge even a pleasant thought. Since the war commenced, even during its darkest days, I had fondly looked forward to the close of his administration as offering at least a promise of peace, and my return to former pursuits. But now, all is dark. My last hope is gone. I feel like giving up � caught without means, and resources � even to speculate, I have had a hard time � a poor time, but I had hope of its termination. Now every prop is knocked from under me. I am at a loss what to do. Something I must